Putin thinks escalation could strengthen his hand with Trump – journalist Portnikov on nuclear threats

This opinion was shared by journalist Vitaly Portnikov on Espreso TV.

“Putin might believe that escalating tensions will give him leverage in talks with Donald Trump. But for that to happen, they need to start talking in the first place. The world is already teetering on the edge of nuclear war. Trump won’t want his presidency to kick off with such a catastrophe, which means he may feel compelled to consider Putin’s demands. That said, it’s unlikely Putin would go so far as to ruin any chance of negotiating with Trump. For instance, if Russia used nuclear weapons between November 2024 and January 2025, it would make negotiations nearly impossible for Trump,” Portnikov explained.

According to Portnikov, any use of nuclear weapons would signal to the West that Russia is beyond negotiation. China and India would also strongly oppose such actions. The mere threat of nuclear weapons, however, serves as effective blackmail.

“They’re essentially saying, ‘A nuclear power might use its weapons, so you’d better respect its interests.’ But if that happens, then what? Musk might head to Mars, but what about everyone else? People will either have to bow down to Moscow or figure out how to escape. With lunatics in charge, maybe the only solution would be to take them out with another missile if we’re all playing by no rules,” he added.

Portnikov emphasized that using tactical nuclear weapons doesn’t solve anything. It’s just a bigger blast radius than a conventional missile. “People die, of course, and if we’re hit by a nuclear strike, it’s bad for us. But in terms of the war, it changes nothing,” he said.

• On Thursday, November 21, the Russian army launched an attack on Ukraine using MiG-31K and Tu-95 aircraft, targeting the Dnipropetrovsk region.
• On November 21, Russian forces launched an intercontinental ballistic missile, along with Kinzhal and Kh-101 missiles, at Ukraine. Ukrainian air defense destroyed six targets.
• President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that on November 21, Russian forces used a new missile against Ukraine, possibly an intercontinental ballistic missile.
• Ukraine's Foreign Ministry is pursuing diplomatic measures and leveraging UN and NATO mechanisms in response to Russia's use of a new missile resembling an intercontinental ballistic missile.
• Valentyn Badrak, Director of the Center for Army, Conversion and Disarmament Studies, a military expert, believes that Putin's actions are aimed at political bargaining to make him a winner in the eyes of the Russian audience.